MWC_Edition106

March 01_GS

I wish you all a very happy month of March, with Spring Equinox coming sooner, bringing new beginnings.

One of the memories of pleasant mornings for me is spending time watching the golden sunrise from the terrace, breathing in the fresh cold air, listening to the beautiful voice of M.S. amma in the Walkman, getting lost trying to understand the philosophical, meaningful verses of the songs. One such favorite song is 'nanati baduku naatakamu'

Shakespeare wrote 'All the world's a stage' but before his time, the 15th century saint Annamacharya wrote the same thing in this Telugu song. He also adds the devotion to Lord as a way of liberation, to escape the drama of Life. This song is set in tunes of Raaga Revathi, though not a raaga of joy, it has it's own soothing characteristic that calms the mind.

Lyrics, meaning & song here: http://youtu.be/xtdDMC08Hz8

Hope you like listening to it.

MWC_Edition8

November 26_KV

My Morning Raga

Annamacharya krithi, Ksheerabdhi Kanya describes the Godess's beauty... From head to toe.... With such love and reverence. It is usually sung during the Neeranjam/Aarti.
Set in the pleasant Kurunji Ragam.

Here's MSS amma's flawless version
http://youtu.be/q-faNEW_EF0

Here's a simple yet beautiful version by A.Srinivasan/Sikkil duo...
http://youtu.be/Jxeru2OylTw

Certainly made my coffee sweeter. Enjoy! smile emoticon

MWC_Edition85‬

February 8_SV

Annamacharya, a saint from the 15th century was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. He composed over 30000 keerthanas on Venkateshwara (the presiding deity in Tirupati, who is an avatar of Vishnu). He enjoyed a lot of popularirty during his time. But his songs were lost to us till the late 60’s. The engravings were found on copper plates and were later popularized by various artites.

Shobha Raju is the chosen singer for today. She has received awards and high praise for her renditions of the Annamacharya songs. She is very well known in Andhra Pradesh. 

I present this song as it evokes very pleasant memories from my childhood including driving up the winding roads to Tirumala every Sunday for a darshan of the Lord, eating prasadam while running around the big praharam, rubbing my palm over the big grindstone where they would grind the camphorated oil for the Lord, and finally falling asleep in the car while driving down home later in the afternoon.

Lyrics:
Komdalalo nelakonna koneti rayadu vadu
Komdalamta varamulu guppeduvadu

Kummara dasudaina kuruvaratinambi
Yimmanna varamulella niccinavadu
Dommulu sesinayatti tomdamam cakkuravarti
Rammanna cotiki vacci namminavadu

Accapu vedukatoda nanamtaluvariki
Muccili vettiki mannu mocinavadu
Maccika dolaka dirumalanambi toduta
Niccanicca mataladi noccinavadu

Kamcilona numda dirukaccinambi mida
Karunimci tanayedaku rappimcina vadu
Emci yekkudaina vemkatesudu manalaku
Mamcivadai karuna balimcinavadu
Meaning:

Pallavi: He is "Konetiraya" (The king of lake that is by the side of Tirumala Temple), who resides on the mountains. He grants wishes limitlessly.


I Stanza:He is the One who granted whatever "Kuruvarati nambi", the pot maker had asked for. He granted boons to the emperor Tondaman, the greatest devotee - whenever he sought His help.


II Stanza: With true pleasure, He carried the mud without any remuneration for Anantaluvar (Lord Venkateshwara comes in the guise of a small kid and helps Anantaluvar while digging a well - for watering the plants in the garden raised for the sacred service of the Lord, - by carrying the dug mud). He is the Beloved One to "Tirumalanambi" who always desired to chat with him.


III Stanza:He is the one who graced "Tirukatchinambi" though he was in "Kanchi" (a popular shrine in Madras) where Varadaraja (another form of Vishnu. Vishnu is the prime form of God who is involved in protecting the good and destroying the evil). Lord Venkateshwara always showers His mercy on us if we serve Him with 'bhakti'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsYCe4dzZV4